Reinforced carton



Oct. 10, 1961 L. A. DE NOLA 3,003,676

REINFORCED CARTON Filed May 31, 1960 FIG../

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. LEONE A. DeNOLA ATTORNEY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 10, 1961 Filed ma 51, 1960 mmvrm LEONE A. DeNOLA ATTORNEY United States Patent ()filice 3,003,676 Patented Oct; 10, 1961 3,003,676 RED FORCED fiARTGN Leone A. De Nola, 367 Glendaie Road,

Hiilsborough, Calif. Filed May 31, 196i Ser. No. 33,036 3 Claims. (Cl. 229-34) The present invention relates to a reinforced carton, and more particularly relates to a paperboard carton having rigid supporting members in pocket extensions of opposite walls of the paperboard carton, and having folded flap extensions in its corners to form double vertically corrugated right angle corner reinforcements for the carton, md platforms for supporting the rigid supporting members.

An object of the present invention is to provide a specially constructed carton for carrying fruit or the like, and to form the same of a single corrugated paperboard lauk, or other suitable material.

Another object of this invention is to provide a corrugated paperboard carton formed of a single blank, said carton having pocket extensions on the end walls thereof to receive rigid supporting members such as an elongated piece of wood to reinforce the carton and to provide a nailing member therefor.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a specially constructed carton formed of a single corrugated paperboard blank, the walls of the carton having double vertically corrugated end and side walls, the corners of the carton having double vertically corrugated reinforcements which also provide platforms for rigid supporting members in the end walls.

A further object of this invention is to provide a paperboard carton which is exceptionally strong, economical to manufacture, and simple to construct.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a specially constructed reinforced carton formed from a single blank and having end Walls which may be preformed to allow space-saving storage thereof, the carton blank with the preformed end walls being quickly and easily assembled into a carton with rigid supporting members in pocket extensions and having double vertically corrugated right angle corner reinforcements for the carton.

The novel features which are believed to be character istic of the invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will be better understood frornthe following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which an embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a view of a single corrugated paperboard blank for forming a carton of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a carton formed of the blank shown in FIG. 1, said carton is seen to be reinforced by rigid supporting members in pocket extensions on opposite end walls of the carton.

FIG. 3 is a partial top view of the carton seen in FIG. 2, a portion of the walls forming one corner is cut away to show the corner reinforcement arrangement.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view as seen along lines 44 of FIG. 3 showing the end wall formation.

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view similar to that of FIG. 2, and showing the walls of the carton blank of FIG. 1 in the process of being initially formed into the carton seen in FIG. 2.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is seen a single corrugated paperboard blank for forming a carton with pocket extensions to receive rigid supporting members, said carton having double vertically corrugated walls, and having double vertically corrugated right angle corner reinforcements forming platforms for the rigid supporting members. The blank is seen to include a middle section 10 with two outer sections 11 and 12 on opposite sides thereof. Middle section 10 has a bottom panel 13 with side wall enclosure extensions 14 and 15 on opposite sides thereof. Outer sect-ion 11 includes a first end wall panel 16a, a pocket panel 17a, a second end wall panel 13a, and a bottom extension 19a consecutively extending from one side of bottom panel 13 in the direction of its corrugations 20 as seen in cutaway portion 21 thereof. On opposite sides of first end wall panel 16a are slotted flap extension 22a and 23a; on opposite sides of second end wall panel 18a are corner reinforcement flap extensions 24a and 25a (unslotted). Flap extension 24a includes consecutive sections 26a, 27a, and 28a; flap extension 25a includes similar consecutive sections 29a, 30a, and 31a. Pocket panel 17a includes sections 32a and 33a. The other outer section 12 of the paperboard blank has similar parts designated with the same numerals but appended with the letter b. i

In forming a carton as seen in FIG. 2 from the paper board blank of FIG. 1, each of the corner reinforcement flap extensions are first folded to form double vertically corrugated right angle corner reinforcements. Flap extension 24a has sect-ion 26a folded on line 40a to adjoin second end wall panel 18a, and then has section 27a folded on lines 41a to adjoin section 26a as more clearly seen in FIGS. 3 and 4. The other flap extensions are similarly folded. Then second end wall panel 18a (as well as panel 1%) with folded flap extensions 24a and 25a is folded on lines 42:: and 43a, in the direction of arrow 44 as seen in FIG. 5, to adjoin first end wall panels 16a. Cuts 56a and 51a allow section 33a of pocket panel 17a to move free of flap extensions 24a and 25a. First end wall panels lea and 1611 are permanently attached to second end wall panels 18a and 18b respectively by means such as a staple 45 seen in FIG. 4. A rigid supporting member 46 such as a four sided piece of wood is then inserted in each of the pockets formed by pocket panels 17a and 17b and the upper portion of first .end wall panels 16a and 165. Outer section 11, as well as seclion 12, has the upper extremities of folded sections 26a and 27a of flap extension 24a, together with the upper extremities of folded sections 39a and 31a of flap extension 25a, form platforms for supporting one of the rigid supporting members. When first end wall panel is folded on line 34a, notch 5211 allows bottom extension 19a to rest on middle section 13.

With each outer section preformed as hereinabove described, the carton itself may now be quickly and easily formed. In forming one side wall for the carton, slotted flap extension 22a is folded on line 47a to interlock slotted flap extension 2212. Slotted flap extensions 23a and 23b are also interlocked to form another side wall. Sections 28a, 28b, 29a, and 29b adjoin their corresponding flap extensions 22a, 22b, 23a, and 23b to form another side of the right angle corner reinforcement for the carton.

In completing the formation of the carton, the side wall enclosure extensions14 and 15 are folded to positionally secure each side wall respectively. Side wall enclosure extension 14 is folded so that section 14b is on the inside, and section 14a is on the outside of the carton with fold lines 48 spanning the upper edge of the side wall. Sections press against second end wall panels 18a and 18b, and against sections 33a and 33b of pocket panels 17a and 17b respectively. Side wall enclosure extension 15 is similarly folded.

It will be noted that the height of side wall enclosure extension sections 14a and 15a determine the height of the carton, said height may be called the reference dimension or may be considered the predetermined height. Flap extensions 22, 23, 24 and 25 are substantially the same height as sections 14a and 15a, whereas the dimensions of panels 16a and 16b are greater than said predetermined height, and the dimensions of panels 18a and 18b are smallerthan said predetermined'height. V

The novel arrangement of the cardboard blank forming a carton of this invention, results in exceptional stacking rigidity for a cardboard carton. The carton may be quickly and easily formed from the minimum amount of corrugated cardboard. Corner reinforcements are formed from extending panels which also provide double vertically corrugated platforms for a rigid supporting member in extending pockets. In addition, all of the surrounding Walls are double vertically corrugated so that the maximum possible stacking rigidity of corrugated cardboard is attained. Furthermore, when the carton is not inuse, and storage thereof is desired, its side wall enclosures may be unfolded, and the interlocking flaps released to result in an essentially flat carton blank member with preformed end members allowing space-saving storage thereof. The carton blank with preformed end walls can be quickly and easily assembled into the carton having the features of this invention. This cardboard has characteristics similar to a wooden carton or box in that its rigid supporting members may be made of wood or like material thereby providing nailing members for a cover, or for braces if needed in case the cartons are stacked.

Having herein described the invention, what is claimed as 'new is:

l. A reinforced carton comprising: a corrugated paperboard carton formed from a single blank including a pair of end sections and a middle section, each end section including a first end wall panel, a second end wall panel, a pocket panel connecting the first and second end wall panels, each end wall panel having a pair of flap extensions on opposite sides thereof, one of the pairs of the flap extensions being slotted, said middle section including a bottom panel having side wall enclosure extensions on opposite sides thereof, the first end wall panels of each end section being connected to the other opposite sides of the bottom panel in the direction of its corrugations, the end sections being folded to form surrounding walls for the bottom panel, the pocket panel forming a pocket extension with the top portion of the first end wall panel,

the slotted flap extensions on each side of the end sec tions being folded to form a side wall, and the side wall enclosure extensions being folded to secure the side walls; and a rigid supporting member in each pocket extension, each of the unslotted flap extensions being folded and positioned between its first end wall panel and the adjoining second end wall panel to fo rm a double vertically corrugated platform having an outer portion, the outer portion adjoining the slotted flap extension on the same side of the end section, whereby each of the unslotted flap extensions form with the slotted flap extension a double vertically corrugated right angle corner reinforcement for the carton, and support said rigid supporting member inserted in the pocket extension;

' 2. A reinforced carton comprising: a corrugated paperboard carton having double vertically corrugated walls of a predetermined height, said carton being formed from a single blank including a pair of end sections and a middle section, each end section including a' first end wall panel having a height greater than said predetermined height, a second end wall panel having a height srnaller than said predetermined height, a pocket panel connecting the first and second end wall panels, each end wall panel having a pair of flap extensions on opposite sides thereof, one of the pairs of the flapextensions being slotted, said middle section including a bottom panel having side wall enclosure extensions of said predetermined height on opposite sides thereof, the first end Wall panels of each end section being connected to the other opposite sides of the bottom panel in the direction of its corrugations, the end sections being folded to fonn surrounding Walls for the bottom panel, each end section being folded to adjoin one face of the inner end wall panel with one face of the outer end wall panel in order to form an end wall, the pocket panel forming a pocket extension with the top portion of the first end wall panel exceeding said predetermined height, the slotted flap extensions on each side of the end sections being folded to form a side Wall, and the side wall enclosure extensions being folded to secure the side walls; and a rigid supporting member in each pocket extension, each of the unslotted flap extensions being folded and positioned between its first end wall panel and the adjoining second end wall panel to form a double vertically corrugated. platform having an outer portion, the outer portion adjoining the slotted flap extension on the same side of the end section, whereby each of the unslotted flap extensions form with the slotted fiap extension a double vertically corrugated right angle corner reinforcement for the carton, and support said rigid supporting member inserted in the pocket extension.

3. A reinforced carton comprising: a corrugated paperboard carton having double vertically corrugated Walls of a predetermined height, said carton being formed from a'single blank including a pair of end sections and a middle section, each end section including a first end wall panel having a height greater than said predetermined height, a second end wall panel having a height smaller than said predetermined height, a pocket panel connecting the first and second end wall panels, and a bottom extension connected to the second end wall panel, each end wall panel having a pair of flap extensions on opposite sides thereof, one of the pairs of the flap extensions being slotted, said middle section including a bottom panel having side wall enclosure extensions of said predetermined height on opposite sides thereof, the first end Wall panels of each end section being connected to the other opposite sides of the bottom panel in the direction of its corrugations, the end sections being folded to form surrounding walls for the bottom panel, each end section being folded to adjoin one face of the inner end wall panel with one face of the second end wall panel in order to form an end wall, the pocket panel forming a pocket extension with the top portion of the first end Wall panel exceeding said predetermined height, the slotted flap extensions on each side of the end sections being folded to interlock the slotted flap extensions and to form a side wall, and the side wall enclosure extensions being folded to secure the side walls; and a rigid supporting member in each pocket extension, each of the unslotted flap extensions being folded and positioned between its first end wall panel and the adjoining second end panel to form a double vertically corrugated platform having an outer portion, the outer portion adjoining the slotted flap extension on the same side of the end section, whereby each of the unslotted flap extensions form with the slotted flap extension a double vertically corrugated right angle corner reinforcement for the carton, and support said rigid supporting member inserted in the pocket extension.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,688,433 Hamilton a a Sept. 7, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 626,166 Great Britain July 11, 194-9 

